Another long-abandoned retail space is being filled. The old Giant supermarket at the Joppa Perring Shopping Center, vacant since 2007, will be filled later this year by Savers, Inc.
Savers, Inc., has more than 200 locations throughout
the United States, Canada, and Australia. It receives its merchandise through
direct donations and by paying cash to nonprofit organizations for donated
clothing and household items. This is the first Savers, Inc., in Maryland.
The store will employ 40 residents, and there will be improvements to the existing structure.
Even in a difficult national economy, we have had a steady stream of announcements about new supermarket and retail openings, from Perry Hall to Towson. I am very happy the long-vacant space at Joppa Perring will be occupied soon.
More than a million people are expected to enjoy the Sailabration events that commemorate Baltimore's role in the War of 1812. Baltimore County, of course, was an important part of the War of 1812. The Battle of North Point, which occurred in September of 1814, delayed the British advance on Baltimore and bought valuable time for those defending the city. Landmarks such as Fort Howard and Todd's Inheritance are part of the heritage of southeastern Baltimore County. Baltimore County provided financial support for Sailabration, and I thank those officials and volunteers who helped staff events over the past week.
In the Fifth District that I represent, some of our communities have important links to the War of 1812. The site that is now Camp Chapel United Methodist Church was the center of the lightly-settled Perry Hall area in 1814. On September 12, 1814, Reverend Henry Smith was preaching at the Camp Meeting Chapel, and he recorded hearing the sounds of the Battle of North Point: "The bombs were heard at Perry Hall, twelve miles from Baltimore, nearly all the night. It was an awful night. Fears were entertained that the enemy would take Baltmore, and overrun and plunder that part of the country...I rode down to Baltimore the day after the British had returned to their ships; and it was in the mouth of almost everyone, saint and sinner. 'The prayers of the good people of Baltimore saved the city.'"
Back then, Joppa Road was an abandoned Susquehannock Indian trail, and at the other end from Perry Hall was Towsontown. Ezekial Towson started the Towson Hotel at York and Joppa Roads in 1768 to serve farmers who brought their produce and livestock to the port of Baltimore. His brother Nathaniel Towson had a distinguished career in the U.S. Army, commanding artillery at the Battles of Fort George, Stoney Creek, Queenston Heights, Chippawa, Lundy's Lane, and Fort Erie.
I believe we should recognize the contributions of Nathaniel Towson to our local history. I have suggested to Towson's civic and business organizations that we dedicate one of our structures in his honor, perhaps the bridge at Dulaney Valley Road leading into Downtown Towson. What do you think?
Ask the average citizen what he or she considers to be among the most important issues facing local government, and parking may be near the bottom of the list. Parking doesn't attract provocative newspaper headlines, but it's an important subject in many jurisdictions, particularly cities. In my nineteen months in office, I've dealt with several parking issues in Downtown Towson, where we have worked to accommodate merchants and where there are numerous parking garages.
One of the most important parking issues concerns shopping centers. Do we really need to build parking lots that can accommodate Black Friday crowds, but sit half-full the rest of the year? Look at many shopping centers, and chances are you'll see a sea of unused parking spaces.
Next month, the County Council will consider Bill 45-12, which is sponsored by Councilmen Olszewski and Oliver. Bill 45-12 would allow the Director of Permits, Inspections, and Approvals to reduce the parking area for a shopping center by up to 40 percent if the proposal meets certain guidelines. Those standards may include open space, pedestrian improvements, and environmental features.
I think this is a good concept, and for several reasons. First, a parking lot is an impervious surface. Reducing the acreage used for parking can curtail runoff into the streams that lead to the Chesapeake Bay.
Second, parking lots cost money. Asphalt is made from petroleum, the cost of which has increased sharply over the past decade.
Third, reducing the area used for parking is not just a recommendation of planning professionals and environmentalists; it's also an element of the Perry Hall Community Plan, which was drafted by my constituents. Here's what the Community Plan says: "Within central Perry Hall, the shopping center at Seven Courts, Super Fresh, Perry Hall Square, White Marsh Mall and the surrounding strip malls are covered in asphalt for cars that are not there."
For all these reasons, I believe Bill 45-12 is legislation worth supporting.
Workers are finishing the renovation of the old Investment Building in northern Towson. Now christened Towson City Center, the building will open this summer and herald a new chapter in the redevelopment of Downtown Towson.
Why is Towson City Center so important? There are a number of reasons.
Towson City Center will bring hundreds of new employees into Downtown Towson who will patronize our restaurants and other businesses. This mass of activity is absolutely critical in stimulating the downtown core. My hope is that the residential development off Towsontown Boulevard, Towson Green, will have a similar effect from the south.
The redevelopment of this old building is already having an impact on Towson's skyline. The new glass skin on the building looks great.
And because Towson University is leasing 58,000 square feet of the building, there is a symbolic effect to the project. Goucher College and Towson University are critical elements of our local economy. The more we can weave these two institutions into the downtown core--administrative functions, offices, and even classrooms--the stronger the core will become.
Caves Valley Partners has invested at least $27 million in this project. County Executive Kevin Kamenetz has been a critical supporter, as was his predecessor, Jim Smith.
Last fall, I introduced legislation that modified the sign requirements for the area that includes this project. I did so because I knew Towson City Center was an essential ingredient for Towson's revitalization to move forward. With the signage now erected, I do not believe it is overpowering at all.
The prospect of a new, job-producing building in the heart of Towson is very exciting, and I thank all those who have made this project possible.
On
Monday, June 5, the Baltimore County Council passed Bill 42-12, which modifies
elements of the Planned Unit Development process. A
Planned Unit Development is a special project which does not conform to
conventional zoning. In return for different zoning standards, the developer is
expected to adher to more rigorous review than normal projects, and there must
be a community benefit package.
The
current County Council has enacted several reforms to make the Planned Unit
Development process more accessible to the public. The Council passed
legislation that requires a public
input meeting and agency comments at the very beginning of the PUD process.
A PUD proposal must
now be on-line, and a land preservation group such as NeighborSpace of
Baltimore County can now qualify for the community benefit package.
Bill
42-12 continues these reforms. The legislation has several important elements.
First,
the legislation clarifies that the second, post-submission input meeting occurs
between 21 and 30 days after a PUD application is filed.
Second,
Bill 42-12 requires that meeting minutes be posted on-line.
Third,
Bill 42-12 specifies that the Departments of Environmental Protection and
Sustainability, Planning, and Public Works, will review the application.
Fourth,
Bill 42-12 says that the comments by these agencies will be posted on-line,
where the public can see them.
Fifth,
the legislation states that final review by the hearing officer is based on a
determination that the proposed PUD meets the Master Plan, community plans, or
the Department of Planning.
Sixth,
the legislation spells out the process by which a material amendment to an
approved PUD may be considered.
These
changes will result in perhaps the most open, transparent process possible for
a proposed development in Baltimore County. As a former President of the Perry
Hall Improvement Association, I often struggled with obtaining minutes or
agency evaluations of proposed developments. With Bill 42-12, the information
is on-line and there is ample opportunity for public comment.
It
is important that you know the reforms included in this bill, since you may not
read about them elsewhere.
